Amid confusion at the federal level about access to updated COVID-19 vaccines, several states are taking steps this fall to make sure that residents have broad access to the shots.
While the Food and Drug Administration recently approved updated COVID-19 vaccines, the agency changed its recommendations about who is eligible for the shots to those 65 and older or younger people with “high risk” conditions.
In addition, CVS said at one point the shots would not be available in 16 states — including Massachusetts and Pennsylvania — that required vaccines to be approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is not meeting until Sept. 18-19.
Governors and cabinet-level officials in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Colorado and New Mexico responded by issuing executive orders or directions to boards of health and pharmacy to ensure access to the vaccines.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement that the state would protect residents’ rights to the COVID and other vaccines.
